TV tonight: ’60 Minutes’ gets inside ‘Lincoln’, Spielberg

Considering three of San Antonio’s own star in “Lincoln,” I’m almost as excited about seeing Spielberg’s movie about our 16th president as I am about seeing who’s voted in as our next president.

The movie, featuring Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role and our S.A. trio — Tommy Lee Jones, Jackie Earle Haley and Bruce McGill – as Thaddeus Stevens, Alexander Stephens and Edwin Stanton, respectively, doesn’t bow in local theaters until a week after the election: Nov. 16.

However, as early as tonight, TV delivers a substantial look at the huge biopic that director Steven Spielberg said it took more than 10 years to research.

On “60 Minutes” – starting at 6 p.m. on CBS or maybe a little later, depending on when the football game ends — Leslie Stahl interviews Spielberg (see photo above). We’ll also get a look at the first clips from the film.

More of what you’ll learn from tonight’s Q&A, according to a “60 Minutes” release: Spielberg describes his “Lincoln” as a story of leadership and healing and saying it’s like no other film he’s done before. “I’ve always wanted to tell a story about Lincoln. I saw a paternal father figure, someone who was completely, stubbornly committed to his ideals, his vision,” he tells Stahl. “I think the film is very relevant for today. It’s about leadership.”

The film covers a four-month period of Lincoln’s presidency, when he’s focused on trying to get Congress to pass the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery. Spielberg tells Stahl that “Lincoln” is quite a departure from his usual films, such as “Jurassic Park” and “Jaws,” because of its attention to the political process and lack of spectacular action scenes and special effects. “I knew I could do the action in my sleep at this point in my career. In my life, the action doesn’t …attract me anymore,” he says.

“60 Minutes” describes the film as an exploration of the drama and darkness inside the head of one of history’s greatest figures. “I think there’s a sense of darkness…with him,” Spielberg tells Stahl. “He was living with two agendas, both of which had to do with healing…first, to abolish slavery, end the war. But he also had his personal life and I think there’s darkness in there.”

Spielberg’s own personal life, particularly his childhood, is frequently mirrored in his characters. Stahl also speaks to him about that relationship and even sits down with his parents.

In this discussion of the director’s childhood, the release states, his parents reveal a secret that even their son didn’t know for many years.

It sounds like fascinating viewing – particularly for S.A. film buffs!